Article container drawer



Jan'- 28, 1941- l P. Q. 'WRAY ARTICLE CONTAINER DRAWER 5 Sheets-Shea?I lFiled Dec. 2, 1937 HW ...MHH

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ATTORNEY Jan. 28, 1941. P Q lWRAY 2,229,785

ARTICLE CONTAINER DRAWER Filed Deo. 2, 1937 s sheets-sheet 2 z o .o o 00 O E o o o o o :4l :a

i u o o o o 0 Ln i no s i l IN1/EN TOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 2s, 1941. P. Q. wwwI 2,229,785

ARTICLE CONTAINER DRAWER Filed Dec. 2, 1937 3 Sheets-Shea?l 3 Z3 I' il'N V EN TOR.

" .f ATTORNEY.

Patented `ian. 28, 1941 iihii'i S'i'iES? FATEN @FFME ARTCLE CONTAINERDRAWER nois Application December' 2, 1937, Serial N0. 177,802

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in article container drawers, andparticularly to a drawer structure intended and adapted to be attachedto and used with any tab-le, counter, shelving, storage bin, work bench,or other supporting structure, to contain brass fittings, Cotter pins,lock washers, carburetor parts, contact points, condensers, starterparts, distributor parts, brushes, scerws, nuts, bolts, pins, nails, crother small articles or parts, and to present these articles or parts inseparate compartments to thus be readily available and accessible.

An object of this invention is to provide a compartmented articlecontainer drawer which can be mounted and used in stores, in shops, inservice departments, and in fact wherever and whenever there areshelves, storage bins, tables, counters, benches, or other supportingstructures that will mount and carry the storage drawer, and whicharticle container drawer is of such construction that it can be readily,conveniently and expeditiously fitted and attached to the storagestructure in relatively limited space and locations where ordinarilyspace may be wasted or unoccupied.

Another object is to so construct the drawer that a compartmented drawerportion, guides or guideways, and a cover or top portion, are associatedas a unitary construction to thus permit ready handling and shipping andconvenient and expeditious attachment at the point or position of use.

Still another purpose is to provide guide or guidevvay portions for thedrawer which will give rigid and substantially non-yielding support forthe drawer, in both opened and closed positions, even when the drawer isloaded or filled with brass iittings, metal parts, or other heavyarticles.

Yet another object is to provide means by which the guideways aredefinitely and rigidly held in properly disposed and spaced relations toallow free sliding and movement of the drawer, and yet parts areprovided to positively stop the movement of the drawer when brought tofully closed and fully opened positions, to thus preclude thepossibility of accidental removal or displacement of the drawer from theguideways.

A further object is to provide a friction reducing structure tofacilitate movement of the drawer in opening and closing the same.

A still lfurther object and purpose is to provide a compartmented drawerstructure with which the parts forming the compartments cooperate.

with each other and with the body portions of the drawer to reinforceand strengthen the structure so that a rigid and yet light drawerconstruction is accomplished, and to prcvide for marking or indicationof various compartments to designate the compartments or the materialsor articles contained therein.

Still another object is to provide a drawer of the above character whichis capable of being made up with the main portions thereof 'of sheetmetal, to thus be of simple and inexpensive construction, and which isyet of such rigid construction that the drawer portion will hold andsupport a considerable weight of metal or other heavy parts, and thatthe drawer structure having a portion serving as a top over the severalcompartments can be used as a shipping container for the parts in theseveral compartments.

With the above and other objects in view, which will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, my invention includes certain novel featuresof construction and combinations and arrangements and assemblies ofparts which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with thedrawings, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional View taken from front, to back througha drawer structure embodying my invention, and showing the drawerclosed.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Figure l showing the drawer opened to itsfullest extent.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken transverselythrough one side of the drawer and supporting structure, substantiallyon line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a View in top plan of the drawer body portion.

Fig. 5 is a view in bottom plan of the drawer body portion.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially online 6-6 of Fig. 4 to better show the construction and association ofthe compartment separators.

Fig. '7 is a View similar to Fig. 6, taken on line 7 1 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of one Fig. 11 is a perspectiveview of a fragmental section of one of the side walls of the drawer.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detail sectional View taken through the drawersupporting and mounting structure to show one of the friction reducingrollers.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. l2 to b-etter show the connection ofone of the brace rods.

Fig. 14 is a sectional vertical View taken from front to back, on areduced scale, showing the drawer supporting structure, `being taken ona line substantially I4-I4 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyon line I5--I 5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the drawer supporting guide andmounting structure as this will appear when viewed from the under side.

As has been stated, my improved drawer structure is adaptable for use tobe attached to and supported by a counter, table top, or any othersuitable supporting member, and in the present instance I have generallyillustrated the top portion of such .a supporting structure at I, itlbeing understood that this top supporting structure might be supportedby legs, or is carried by or associated with Iany cabinet, counter,table, or other supporting structure. I

The drawer mounting and slide structure is illustrated in Fig. 16 withthe drawer removed, and in other figures of the drawings with the drawerin place, and this supporting structure has a top member 2, of sheetmetal or other suitable material, formed to be slightly larger than thebody portion 3 of the sliding drawer. This top member 2 has at its sideedges the drawer guide and slide members 4 and` 5. The guide and slidemembers are at their upper edges each provided with an outwardlydisposed flange B and an inwardly extending return flange l, theseflanges being sufficiently separated to receive and hold the side edgesof the top member 2 of the supporting structure. The guide and slidemembers 4 and 5 can be rigidly and permanently connected with the topmember 2 by means of rivets 8 passing through the top member and throughthe flange l, by spot welding, or by any other desired and suitablefastening. The forward edge of the top member 2 is provided or formedwith an inturned flange 9, perhaps best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so thatthis edge is reinforced, stiilened and strengthened, between the twodrawer slide or guide members 4 and 5. At its inner edge the top member2 is provided with a down turned flange portion I0 which serves toreinforce and strengthen and stiffen the top member at the rear edgebetween the drawer slide and guide members 4 and 5, and also this downturned flange is interposed in the path of sliding movement of thedrawer, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and the flange I0will serve as a stop to limit inward sliding movement of the drawer.

At their lower edges, the drawer slide or guide members 4 and 5 haveinturned and upturned flange portions I I and I2 which form opentrackways. Anti-friction bearing rollers I3 are mounted on pins I4within these open trackways to thus be presented .as anti-frictionbearings to carry the drawer when in place in the supporting structure.

Iit is perhaps preferable that the drawer slide and guide members 4 and5 be made somewhat longer than the top portion 2, but as the mainportion of the weight of the drawer wil-l be oarried substantiallybeneath this top portion 2, it

will probably be found suiiicient to provide rollers I3 only in theforward portion of the length of each of the members 4 and 5, or in theportion beneath the top member 2. To hold `the drawer slide and guidemembers 4 and 5 in proper spacing and to assemble the supportingstructure into a substantially rigid unitary structure, I providespacing rods I5 and I6 and mount these transversely adjacent to thelower edges and the forward and rear end-s of these members 4 and 5. Asshown in Fig. 13, the rods I5 and IB have their ends externally `screwthreaded, :as at I'I, and the screw threaded endsof the rods are fittedthrough aligned openings I8 formed through the trackway por-tions of themembers 4 and 5, clamp nuts I9 and 20 being turned onto the screwthreaded portions I 'I to bear on opposite sides of the trackwayportions and to consequently securely clamp and rigidly hold thetransverse cross bars I5 and IS in substantially unitary mounting andassembly with -the members 4 and 5. A

The overlapping and outwardly extending portions of the flanges 6 and 'Iand of the top member 2 are provided with openings 2| spaced at suitable-and desirable intervals along the length of each of the members 4 and5, and screws 22, or other suitable fastening means, can be insertedthrough these openings to secure the drawer supporting and slide andguideway structure upon the under side of the table top or othersupporting member I. In the present instance I have shown .thefastenings 22 as wood screws, but it will be understood and appreciatedthat bolts, rivets, or in fact any other form of fastening can beemployed, depending somewhat upon the particular use and installation.The securement of these mounting and fastening members through thealigned openings 2| further insures a rigid and unitary association of'the top member 2 and the members 4 and 5, and the drawer portion andsupporting structure as a whole is thus further supported and is madeeven more rigid by the top portion I. y

The drawer structure has the body portion 3 thereof carried by the sideslide members 23 and 24. As perhaps best shown in Fig. 3, these sideslidemembers have their upper edges folded over to provide reinforcingand stiffening flanges 25, and at their lower edges the members 23 and24 are bent inwardly and then upwardly to provide flange portions 26 and21 which are loosely received to slide within the guidew-ays formed bythe flanges I I .and I2 of the members 4 and 5, and to be supported uponthe friction reducing bearing rollers I3. The upper flanged edge 25 ofeach of the members 23 and 24 is presented in close proximity to theunder side of the top member 2, adjacent to the drawer slide and guide'members 4 and 5, and as these members 23 and 24 are made longer, attheir inner ends, than the forward-to-back length of the body 3 of thedrawer, the extensions of these members 23 and 24 will slide into therearwardly extending ends of the members 4 and 5.

A drawer front 23 is mounted on the forward or outer ends of the members23 and 24, and a drawer back 29 is secured transversely between themembers 23 and 24 forwardly of the rear ends thereof. It is preferablethat the drawer front be provided with reinforcing ange portions 30 and3I at its upper and lower edges, and the drawer back 29 is alsopreferably provided with flanges 32 and 33, at its upper and loweredges. A drawer bottom 34 is fitted within the confines of the membersV23, 24, 28 and 29, and rests at its edges upon the flange portionsZfl,31|, and 33. rIhis drawer bottom 34 is secured in place by means ofrivets, spot welding, or any other suitable fastening, and with thedrawer front and back and the side portions makes up the substantiallyrectangular drawer body 3.

It is desirable that the drawer body 3 be divided off to provide aplurality of compartments so that provision is made for reception,storage and display of several different types or varieties orcharacters of materials or parts or items in `the several compartmentedspaces of the drawer body, and to accomplish this division orcomlpartmenting of the drawer structure, and yet provide a rigidpartition structure that will resist displacement or damage from shocksand forces incident to use, and will at the same time reinforce andstrengthen the body portion, it is perhaps preferably that the partitionmembers dividing the body into compartments be interiitted andinterassociated, and be interconnected and interassociated with thesides of the drawer body. To divide the drawer body into compartments, I

Iprovide a plurality of partition members 35 Aadapted to be fittedwithin the drawer body to extend from front to back and substantiallyparallel with the si-de members 23 and 24. These partition members 35are preferably provided with iianges 36 at their lower edges, and attheir upper edges have slots or slits 3l spaced at points correspondingto the desired location of transverse partitions. The transversepartitions 38 have flanges 39 at their lower edges, and these partitions33 are provided with slots or slits 4G which will register with thelateral parallel spac.

ing of the front-t-back partitions 35. The formation of the slots orslits 31 and 4i) is such that when the partitions 35 and 38 are fittedin piace within the drawer body 3, these partitions will intertsubstantially after the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and consequentlythe several partition members are interiitted and are interassociated tobrace and hold one against the other. The flanges 25, 3D and 32 arepreferably provided with slots or slits at their lower edges, as shownat 4|, and the upper edges of the partition members 35 and 38 will thusbe held in proper spacing and will be rigidly secured against being bentout of or otherwise displaced from the desired and proper spacing andlocation. Rivets 42 can be clinched through openings provided in flanges39 and in the bottom member 34, and in this way the partition members 38.and 35 are positively secured and are held against shifting or movementat their lower edges. Obviously, these flanges might be spot welded andother approved and desired means of securement might be employed in lieuof the rivets 42.

Where the several compartments have parts or items of differentcharacter contained or stored or displayed therein, some difliculty maybe experienced in properly locating the particular item in one of theunmarked compartments, and therefore I provide means for holdingidentifying tags or markers adjacent to each of the severalcompartments. On some of the transverse partitions 38, I provideoutwardly bent flanges 43, as shown in Fig. 7, and the slip portions 44are secured upon these flanges by means of rivets, by spot wel-ding, orin any other desired manner. These clip strips 44 have side flangesadapted to hold in place guide or index or identification cards, orother sheets or strips having thereon matter or material desired to bedisplayed adjacent to the several compartments. In the present instanceI have shown these clip strips 44 mounted on alternate transverseypartitions 38, and in such a construction and assembly a single guidestrip can have marked thereon two identifying indications to showadjacent to the two `compa-rt` ments on opposite sides of the locationof the clip strip 44.

As stated, the ange l0 is disposed to project into the path of movementof the drawer 3 to thus serve 'as a stop to limit inward or closingmovement of the drawer, and if desired the flange portion 33 of thedrawer front 28 can also serve tov stop and strengthen the drawer whenbrought to the closed position. This flange portion 3l, extending belowthe bottom 34 of the drawer body 3, also presents a convenient flange orprojection to be grasped in opening the drawer.

As the transverse spreader rods I5 and I3 are spaced below the bottom 34of the drawer body 3, these rods will not ordinarily interfere with freesliding movement of the drawer to opened and closed positions. However,as the structure has been described above, the drawer body portion canbe pulled forwardly or outwardly to be entirely disengaged from theslide or guide portions 4 and 5, and to avoid accidental displacement ofthe drawer and consequent spilling of the contents, it is desirable thatmeans be provided to stop or limit outward movement of the drawer whilethe extensions of the side members 23 and 24 are still slidably ortelescopically received within the members 4and 5 a suiiicient distanceto support the weight of the drawer body 3, such position beingindicated in Fig. 2. With this in mind, I provide a plate 45 which isswingably mounted on the under side of the bottom portion 34 adjacent tothe drawer back 29. This plate or stop member 45 has a hooked flange d5bent downwardly and forwardly at its rear edge, and as the drawer body 3is pulled out, this f flange 46 will catch upon the spacing rod l5 andwill prevent further outward movement of the drawer. Where it is desiredto remove the drawer, this swingably mounted plate or stop member can beswung up so that the hook portion ,46 will clear and pass over the topof the rod l5, and then the drawer can be entirely removed. Asillustrated in Fig. 2, it is perhaps desirable that this stop portion orplate 45 be so formed and mounted that outward movement of the drawerbody 3 will be stopped when the drawer back 32 is adjacent to theforward edge of the top member 2.

With the drawer structure made up and constructed land assembled in themanner'set forth, it will be possible to place brass fittings or otherparts in the several compartments of the body, and then when the draweris closed the top member 2 will serve as a top to close the severalcompartments and to prevent spilling and intermixing of the contentsthereof. If the clearance be too great between the upper edges of thepartition walls 35 and 38, and the lower side of the top 2, a piece ofcorrugated strawboard, or any other suitable filler, can be inserted.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a drawerstructure adaptable for mounting and support in connection with and upona vast number of counter, table and other structures now already in use,which drawer construction and the supporting means therefor are of suchheight or depth as to permit mounting in what is ordinarily waste orunused space; that the drawer structure is made substantially entirelyof sheet metal which is readily and inexpensively Worked and made up,and yet the parts are intertted and interconnected and interbraced insuch a manner that an extremely rigid and durable unitary structure isaccomplished;

and, that as provided the drawer structure can be made up and can bereadily shipped and handled and can then be tted in place and attachedfor use by an individual user, without the employment of special toolsor fittings or appliances.

While I have herein shown and described only certain specic embodimentsof my invention and have suggested only certain possible uses andconstructions and assemblies and changes, it will be appreciated thatmany changes can be made in the form, construction, arrangement,assembly and association of the parts, in the manner of mounting, and inthe manner of use of the structure, without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention.

- I claim:

1. An article container drawer comprising, a pair of drawer slide andguide side members having inturned and upturned flanges at their loweredges and provided with outturned iianges at their upper edges, aplate-like cover member connected across between said slide and guidemembers at the outwardly flanged edges thereof and forming a closed top,spreader rods connected between the inwardly and upwardly anged edges ofthe slide and guide members adjacent to the forward and the rear endsthereof and thus forming with the slide and guide members and the covermember a drawer slide and guide structure, a drawer fitted to said slideand guide structure between the cover and the spreader rods to slidetherein to opened and to closed positions with the cover member servingas a top for the drawer when in closed position, a downturned flange onthe inner end of the cover member serving to stop movement of the drawerwhen in a closed position, and a stop plate hingedly mounted on thebottom of said drawer body and provided with a downwardly disposed hookflange to engage with and catch upon the forward spreader rod to stopmovement of and prevent outward displacement of the drawer body whenbeing opened, said stop plate being swngable upwardly to clear the rodwhereby the drawer can be entirely removed from the slide and guidestructure.

2. An article container` drawer comprising a pair of drawer slide andguide side members having inturned and upturned flanges at theirloweredges and provided with outturned and then inwardly returned andoverlying and spaced flanges at their upper edges, a top member fittedand held within the space between the top flanges thereby separating theslide and guide side members, spacing rods connected transversely acrossbetween the slide and guide side members adjacent to their lower edgesleaving the inturned and upturned ange portions thereof as opentrackways, and a drawer body portion slidably mounted within the opentrackways and consequently between the spacing rods and the top member.

3. An article container drawer comprising a pair of drawer slide andguide side members hav-l ing inturned and upturned flanges at theirlower edges and provided with outturned and then inwardly returned andoverlying and spaced flanges at their upper edges, a top member fittedand held within the space between .the top flanges thereby separatingthe slide and guide side members, spacing rods connected transverselyacross between the slide and guide side members adjacent to their loweredges leaving the inturned and upturned flange portions thereof as opentrackways, a drawer body portion slidably mounted within the opentrackways and consequently between the spacing rods and the top member,a

' flange on the inner edge of the top member downturned in position tolimit inward movement of the drawer body portion when closed, and aplate hingedly mounted on the lower side of the drawer body portionextending rearwardly and having its rear end bent downwardly andforwardly in the form of a hook engageable with the forward spacing rodto stop excessive outward movement of the drawer body portion whenopened.`

PARK Q. WRAY.

